Cost of a Lower Back MRI Visit
in Washington
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Washington's healthcare market runs approximately 10% above national averages, influenced by the state's concentration of major health systems in Seattle-Tacoma and rural access challenges in eastern counties. Patients seeking a Lower Back MRI typically pay between $65 and $2,851, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $368 based on negotiated insurance rates. With over 5,400 active Lower Back MRI providers across Washington, patients can browse options from Spokane to Vancouver to find quality care that fits their budget.
Average
$1,095
Median
$368
Lowest
$65
Highest
$2,851
Providers
5,422
186% above national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri lumbar spine compare to related procedures in Washington?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $100 | $503 | $863 | 3,337 |
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $59 | $327 | $505 | 3,351 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $79 | $267 | $1,834 | 4,596 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $54 | $171 | $384 | 3,423 |
Important: These are cost estimates only — not a quote and not medical advice.
The prices on this page are self-pay rates, drawn from federal Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files (CPT 72148 — MRI lumbar spine without contrast). They represent what a patient might pay without insurance.
Your actual cost depends on: your specific insurance plan, your remaining deductible, your coinsurance percentage, whether you have met your out-of-pocket maximum, whether the facility and provider are both in-network, and any separate anesthesia or implant fees billed independently.
This page does not constitute medical advice. Whether you need this procedure, and which approach is right for you, is a decision to make with a licensed healthcare provider.
Where this data comes from & what CPT 72148 covers
Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 72148 (MRI lumbar spine without contrast), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.
What CPT 72148 covers: the provider's professional fee for mri lumbar spine. It does not include facility/hospital fees, anesthesia, pre-operative imaging, post-operative care, or any add-on codes billed separately.
How to read this data
Negotiated Rate
The discounted price an insurer has agreed to pay a specific provider. Most insured patients' bills are calculated from this number, not the higher list price hospitals publish separately.
P5, Median, P95
P5 is the rate at the 5th percentile (low end), Median is the middle value, and P95 is the 95th percentile (high end). This range shows how much the same visit can vary between providers.
What this does not tell you
These rates do not tell you what you personally will pay out of pocket. That depends on your specific plan, how much of your deductible you have already met, your coinsurance rate, and whether the provider is in your network. Call your insurer's member line to get your exact estimate.
Why Lower Back MRI Visit Costs Vary Across Washington
Washington's healthcare costs run approximately 10% above the national average, driven by high labor costs in the Seattle metro area and the challenges of serving rural populations across the state's mountainous terrain. The concentration of major health systems west of the Cascades creates cost disparities with underserved eastern regions.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
The Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metropolitan area contains the majority of Washington's Lower Back MRI providers, creating competitive pricing in urban cores but limiting options for patients in rural counties like Ferry, Garfield, or Wahkiakum. Eastern Washington residents often travel significant distances to access advanced imaging, with some crossing into Idaho or Oregon for more convenient care. This geographic concentration contributes to higher utilization and costs in urban areas while creating access barriers in rural communities.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-owned imaging centers affiliated with major systems like UW Medicine, Swedish, or MultiCare typically charge higher facility fees than independent imaging centers due to higher overhead costs and emergency department support capabilities. Academic medical centers in Seattle command premium pricing for specialized imaging protocols and subspecialty expertise. Freestanding imaging centers often provide the most cost-effective option for routine Lower Back MRI studies.
Insurance Market Competition in Washington
Premera Blue Cross, Regence BlueCross BlueShield, Kaiser Permanente, and UnitedHealthcare dominate Washington's insurance market, creating moderate competition that helps contain some cost growth. The state's robust regulatory environment and All-Payer Claims Database promote price transparency, though regional market concentration allows some providers to maintain higher negotiated rates. Kaiser's integrated model offers different cost structures compared to traditional fee-for-service arrangements with other major insurers.
Physician Supply and Demand in Washington
With over 5,400 active Lower Back MRI providers, Washington maintains a relatively strong supply of imaging specialists, particularly in the Puget Sound region where major medical schools train new radiologists. This healthy provider-to-population ratio helps moderate wait times and creates some competitive pricing pressure, though demand from the state's growing population and aging demographics continues to drive utilization. Rural areas still experience radiologist shortages, leading to longer travel distances and sometimes higher costs for specialized interpretations.
Jayant Panwar
CEO, Momentary Labs · San Francisco, CA
Jayant has analyzed healthcare pricing data from CMS Transparency in Coverage files since 2022, covering more than 50 million negotiated rate records across all 50 states. His work focuses on making insurer machine-readable files accessible to patients and researchers.
The cost figures on this page reflect his ongoing work to make this data accessible to patients.
Frequently Asked Questions — Lower Back MRI Costs in Washington
What is the average cost of a Lower Back MRI visit in Washington without insurance?
Does Washington Medicaid cover Lower Back MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Lower Back MRI near me in Washington?
What is the difference in cost between an initial consultation and a follow-up visit?
Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for a Lower Back MRI visit in Washington?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Lower Back MRI in Washington?
Click a state to compare costs
Average Visit Cost
Office visit (CPT 72148)
Compare With Other States
| Rank | State | Average↓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska Range: $73 – $2,851 | $1,925 |
| 2 | Montana Range: $73 – $2,851 | $1,097 |
| 3 | Washington Range: $65 – $2,851 | $1,095 |
| 4 | Idaho Range: $65 – $2,851 | $1,068 |
| 5 | North Dakota Range: $145 – $2,450 | $987 |
| 6 | Minnesota Range: $88 – $2,450 | $969 |
| 7 | Wisconsin Range: $73 – $1,477 | $577 |
| 8 | Georgia Range: $69 – $949 | $416 |
| 9 | Nevada Range: $102 – $750 | $400 |
| 10 | Hawaii Range: $85 – $577 | $373 |
| 11 | Louisiana Range: $60 – $702 | $372 |
| 12 | Massachusetts Range: $74 – $590 | $344 |
| 13 | Maine Range: $116 – $659 | $344 |
| 14 | New Mexico Range: $62 – $720 | $323 |
| 15 | Wyoming Range: $65 – $663 | $320 |
| 16 | Nebraska Range: $129 – $477 | $310 |
| 17 | Colorado Range: $65 – $663 | $305 |
| 18 | Oregon Range: $88 – $447 | $301 |
| 19 | Utah Range: $65 – $603 | $298 |
| 20 | South Dakota Range: $142 – $368 | $293 |
| 21 | West Virginia Range: $79 – $418 | $289 |
| 22 | New Hampshire Range: $85 – $579 | $288 |
| 23 | North Carolina Range: $72 – $572 | $285 |
| 24 | Iowa Range: $85 – $513 | $284 |
| 25 | Illinois Range: $76 – $553 | $271 |
| 26 | Indiana Range: $64 – $554 | $269 |
| 27 | Vermont Range: $63 – $583 | $267 |
| 28 | Rhode Island Range: $65 – $527 | $261 |
| 29 | District of Columbia Range: $59 – $527 | $259 |
| 30 | Michigan Range: $67 – $527 | $258 |
| 31 | Tennessee Range: $72 – $499 | $253 |
| 32 | Virginia Range: $49 – $553 | $253 |
| 33 | Kentucky Range: $64 – $516 | $249 |
| 34 | Kansas Range: $71 – $502 | $244 |
| 35 | New York Range: $53 – $529 | $243 |
| 36 | Pennsylvania Range: $55 – $527 | $238 |
| 37 | South Carolina Range: $63 – $465 | $229 |
| 38 | Alabama Range: $59 – $452 | $223 |
| 39 | Oklahoma Range: $61 – $473 | $222 |
| 40 | Texas Range: $65 – $447 | $220 |
| 41 | New Jersey Range: $52 – $459 | $218 |
| 42 | Missouri Range: $76 – $415 | $218 |
| 43 | Maryland Range: $29 – $447 | $217 |
| 44 | Ohio Range: $49 – $457 | $214 |
| 45 | California Range: $72 – $470 | $213 |
| 46 | Mississippi Range: $58 – $447 | $213 |
| 47 | Delaware Range: $66 – $363 | $211 |
| 48 | Connecticut Range: $55 – $456 | $206 |
| 49 | Arkansas Range: $72 – $380 | $205 |
| 50 | Florida Range: $35 – $473 | $189 |
| 51 | Arizona Range: $65 – $356 | $181 |